It's an optimistic outlook, but the one the Thunder is hoping for after Roberson ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee in January. And Roberson remains on track, he said, to be ready for the start of the season.

On Monday, he had a workout with Thunder staff - and new teammate Nerlens Noel - before OKC's Summer League game, which Roberson watched from a front-row seat alongside Noel, coach Billy Donovan and assistant general manager Troy Weaver.

When he's on the court, Roberson can shoot "slight jump shots," he said, and do some ball handling drills. He hasn't run yet, but the plan was to try some Monday afternoon on an AlterG, an anti-gravity treadmill that lets athletes ease back into full-speed running during rehab.

"I'm just trying to come back with a positive mindset, a killer attitude," Roberson said. "I'm injured but nothing's wrong, so that's good."

...

Roberson, too, is trying to be patient. It's not always easy. But as he nears six months from the injury, he can focus on where he's going by considering where he's been.

"I got through the hard part," Roberson said. "I'm up walking around, being mobile, which kind of eases me at times. I always look back at the times where I was just laying in bed and I keep telling myself I've come a long way, so there's nothing to be frustrated about."

The 6-foot-7 Roberson was an All-Defense second-team selection in 2016-17. In 39 games last season, he averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.15 steals per game.